Viet Nam is key partner at High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS

During the meeting, countries will agree to a new Political Declaration on Ending AIDS. A key element will be adopting a Fast-Track approach during the next five years, which includes reaching UNAIDS' ambitious 90-90-90 treatment target, whereby 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status are accessing treatment and 90% of people on treatment have suppressed viral loads. Reaching these treatment targets through increased HIV tests and diagnosis, as well as scaling up HIV prevention and eliminating HIV-related discrimination will firmly set the world on course to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

"It is essential that we leave no one behind in the response to HIV if we are to end AIDS by 2030. Every person counts. Every country counts. Together, we can show how success can be achieved with strong political commitment and international solidarity," said Vice Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long.

As the first country in Asia to commit to the 90-90-90 treatment targets in 2014, Viet Nam is an important voice at the High-Level Meeting. Viet Nam has made significant progress in responding to AIDS. There were 227 000 reported people living with HIV in Viet Nam in 2015. There were 12 000 new reported infections in 2015 - about two third reduction from the peak in 2007. By the end of 2015, more than 105 000 people were accessing HIV treatment, a more than 30-fold increase since 2005 - although that is only 46% of reported people living with HIV. Viet Nam has pilot-tested innovations such as simplified and decentralized HIV treatment through the 'Treatment 2.0' initiative and community-based lay-provider HIV testing by key populations, which many other countries are still not yet even considering.

"At this unique moment in history, Viet Nam is a key partner in the global AIDS response," said Dr. Kristan Schoultz, UNAIDS Country Director for Viet Nam. "We know that we can count on Viet Nam's strong political leadership to Fast-Track the national response and pave the way to a new world, where AIDS is no longer a threat to public health."

Enhancing HIV testing and access to treatment will go a long way toward ending the AIDS epidemic in Viet Nam. But prevention of new infections and elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination are also vitally important. People most at risk of acquiring HIV and most severely affected by HIV, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers, and their intimate partners must have access to high-quality HIV services, as well as health and social services free from stigma and discrimination.

Click here to download the United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS

Contact

• Ministry of Health/Viet Nam Administration for AIDS Control | Nguyen Hai Hue | tel. +844 983 535 057 |lenguyenminhhue@yahoo.com
• UNAIDS Viet Nam | Nguyen Thi Bich Hue | tel. +844 984 259 523 | bichhuen@unaids.org